Dr
Simon Cross MA, PhD, PGCE, FRGS

My research work within IET/LTI-Academic is focused on several areas. These include: understanding the context, role and impact of open and online study on student learning; issues and trends in use of handheld mobile devices for study and non-study purposes; student perceptions and understanding of Learning Gain; design and effectiveness of micro-level learning pathways; and exploring emerging opportunities for VR technologies. I also contribute to a range of institutional strategic projects and faculty-initiated work. I joined the academic team as lecturer in late 2014. See my blog for recent news (under social media tab). My present areas of interest are:

Open and Online Learning

I have led or been involved in developing a number of open online courses. As a member of the TESS-India academic team I have worked on the design, facilitator training, delivery and evaluation of two teacher trainer MOOCs in India (2015 and 2016) and at present we are working at State level to support strategic alignment and uptake of the TESS-India OER resources. The TESS-India project was Best International Project, Guardian University Awards 2017 (for more information see our latest paper: MOOC adaptation and translation to improve equity in participation). I've also been involved in evaluating the 2013 OLDS MOOC, the 2013 Open Education MOOC and FutureLearn MOOCs, and led the delivery team of the 2009-10 OpenED OOC (EU funded project). I am an author on the OU's MA in Online and Distance Education.

Learning Analytics and Gains

I am a member of the ABC Learning Gains project team and currently leading the analysis of quantitative data collected from in-depth student interviews. Of particular interest are the perceptions, framing and interpretations of the concept of making a 'learning gain'. I am a principal member of the OU's Data Wrangler team who analyse and interpret learning analytics and student feedback data. In the last two years, I have written reports in to the impact of studying concurrent study, module performance, and assessment banking. I also worked on the 2015-2016 OU Learning Anlaytics project.

Mobile and Handheld Learning

Over the last three years I have been lead of a longitudinal survey seeking to monitor and understand student uses of handheld technologies. Our current dataset represents a unique insight into distance learners' use of handheld devices and the changing place and space of study.

Learning Design, Student Choice and Micro-learning Pathways

I have a longstanding interest in learning design and visualisation. I first joined the OU's strategic Learning Design project in 2007 and was involved throughout the 2008-2012 JISC sponsored Open University Learning Design Initiate (OULDI) Project. At present I am interested in implementing adaptive and multi-path learning routes by using existing VLE functionality and framing this as a choice to students. A small-scale pilot on a post-gradaute module is currently being evaluated.

Assessment and digital badges

I have been involved in several projects related to the OU's institutional Assessment Programme. In 2014-16 I led the Student Experience of Assessment, Feedback and Revision (SEFAR) project and made contributions to the institutional benchmarking of assessment practice. I have a particular interest in exploring synergies between learning design, revision design, and learning/assessment analytics. Between 2016-2017 I was co-investigator and Work Package lead for the EU funded TeSLA project and remain interested in the function and roles of digital badges for learning and for learners.

Dr Simon Cross is a lecturer at The Open University (UK). His current research interests include embedding open and online learning, the contextualised experience of MOOCs, VR, student experience and perceptions of learning gain and assessment, learning design, and mobile learning. He is an academic author on the university’s MA in Online and Distance Learning and has led projects aligned to strategic learning and teaching programmes. Simon has worked on nine externally funded projects since joining the university and has presented at many international conferences.